Killer pit bull back at large

OSOYOOS - The public is being warned to be on the lookout for a dangerous pit bull that is back on the loose after being stolen yesterday from a locked animal control building.

Brutus, an American pit bull Terrier, has killed one dog and attacked another. It was removed from a regional district compound in Osoyoos between 3 and 5:30 p.m. yesterday. There were signs of forced entry.

The public has been warned by the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen to take extra precaution with their pets and small children. The same goes for Kamloops residents as well as the dog's owner is from there. There is no word from the RCMP if the dog's owner was involved but police are still investigating.

District spokesperson Andrew Stuckey said Brutus and a female counterpart were originally seized by the RCMP on Aug. 1 after the pair attacked a tethered dog. The female was returned to the owner while Brutus was kept by the authorities. While in custody, Brutus escaped his cage and killed another caged dog.

Stuckey said the other captured animals are still in their cages following yesterday's break-out.

"The regional district considers (Brutus) to be a dangerous dog," Stuckey explained. "We will make an application to the court to have him put down."

The spokesperson said this is not the first time animals have been stolen from custody although it's a first for this district.

Stuckey confirmed the dog's owner could have contested the seizure in court.

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